The organizers of two of the world’s most famous endurance motorcycle races – the Bol d’Or and the Le Mans 24 Hour race – have agreed to swap dates in 2015 in response to demands from fans and to allow the Bol d’Or to return to the Paul Ricard circuit.

Back in 2011 the calendar was changed so that the Le Mans 24 Hour was run in September and the Bol d’Or in April. Traditionally the Paul Ricard circuit, in the south of France has hosted the Bol d’Or but with the date change in 2011 the event was moved to the west of France to the Nevers Magny Cours Circuit. This year’s Bol d’Or race is scheduled there for next weekend (April 26/27).

However, from next year both races will revert to their original dates on the international motorcycle racing calendar. The 2015 Le Mans 24 Hour motorcycle race will be held on the Bugatti Circuit in April (the final dates have yet to be announced) and the 2015 Bol d’Or will return to Paul Ricard on September 19-20.

Pierre Fillon President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, which runs the Le Mans 24 Hours, said: “As we are organizers of popular sporting events we pay very close attention to the wishes of our spectators. We took into account their desire to go back to holding the Le Mans 24 Hours for Motorbikes in the spring as the season opener, as was the case between 1978 and 2010.

“Thanks to our close collaboration with the Larivière Organization and with the agreement of the FIM and the FFM, a return to the previous situation was made possible. It’s a great break for the Le Mans 24 Hours for Motorbikes and for endurance racing as a whole.”